After consulting with a few other bonsai artist, in particular Mike Rogers.  I found that the pot that this tree was potted in was too “Heavy” mass-wise for the tree.  In Bonsai, everything is about perspectives and relationships.  The overall height of a tree, is six times the width of the trunk at the base of the tree.  The first branch should be located one third of the overall height of the tree.    The width of the bonsai pot should be two thirds the height of the overall tree.  The depth of the pot should be no more than then the thickness of the trunk. 

I know that this seems to be a lot of math for such an artform.  However the brain automatically makes these calculations and makes sure that all parts of the tree are in perspective as they relate the tree parts.  It is that immediate feeling one gets when they look at art, a human face, or even a structure.  If one aspect of the object are out of balance it can cause the viewer to see weakness, unbalance, or dislike for the object. 

So with that said, the pot that I had this tree in before was too wide, and too deep.  The color was good though, and that is why I used it in the first place.  The tree is now potted into a new Tokoname pot that is with in scale and the color, although darker, is an accpetable finish and color for Junipers.

New Pot for Blue Alps Juniper

This tree still requires plenty of branch work, but it will come in time.

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I was contacted a short while back by a woman who I had met a year or so ago.  Her brother was ill and she couldn’t keep up with his bonsai collection and asked if I would accept it as a donation with the agreement that I cared for the trees.  I could hear the sadness in her voice, and how deeply these trees meant to her and her brother.  I agreed without seeing them, but knew there would have been some neglect because of not being under the care of a bonsai hobbiest.

Ficus Nerafolia in need of pruning

Surface roots in too shallow of a pot

This is one of the trees that I was given to look after.  It is leggy, and the roots were in poor condition.  I know these trees are very forgiving though and knew after being repotted that it would be fine.

Of course this got me to thinking about my own collection, and what my trees mean to me.  Not to mention what will happen to them after my time on Earth comes to pass.  I often think that if I am able I will simply take the trees out into a nicely wooded area where I could plant them and allow them to grow into their full sized relatives.  I guess only time will tell

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I have been working on this tree for years now, and it is so close to being a finished bonsai.  This winter when the leaves drop I will wire this tree one more time, and it should be pretty amazing come Spring, if I say so myself.  It filled in this year in all thright places.  The canopy is sio full that the tree rarely even puts out shoots of the full sized leaves of its previous life.  As you know, all these branches were thread grafted from a dwarf variety of crepe myrtle.

Grafted Crepe Myrtle Filled in

I am still hopefull to get  some blooms this year, but it is late in the year and no buds are present.  I have had this tree pretty shaded this year so I think that effected the flowers

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I wanted to show an update of my little Black Pine that I have worked over the last year.  It has come a long way, added new branches and is doing very well.  This tree is pictured straight off my bench.  So there are weeds, a dirty pot, and a tree that really needs wired.

Shohin Black Pine

I hope to have it wired out in October, and will post a new photo at that time.

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